December 24, 2023

By Mark Whicker

Canadian Baseball Network

They left us in 2023:

Brooks Robinson died on Sept. 26 in Owings Mills, Md. He was 86. He personified the third base position during the 1960s and 70s, was an American League MVP, won 16 Gold Gloves in a 16-year span, and had 2,848 hits and played 23 years, all with Baltimore. His magical defence is still the answer to any word-association involving the 1970 World Series, against Cincinnati.

“I’m beginning to see Brooks in my sleep. If I dropped this plate, he’d pick it up on one hop and throw me out at first.” — Sparky Anderson, Cincinnati manager.

Roger Craig died on June 3 in San Diego. He was 93. He pitched for both the 1959 championship Dodgers and the 1962 Mets, losing 46 decisions in a two-year span in which he completed 27 games. Craig was more famous for his confident leadership as he managed San Francisco. The Giants went to the playoffs twice, getting to Game 7 of the NLCS in 1987 and then winning the NL pennant two years later, which meant Craig had pitched, coached (for Detroit in 1984) and managed in World Series.

Craig’s motto was “Humm Baby,” and his weapon was the mastery of the split-fingered fastball that boosted (and, some said, eventually sabotaged) several pitching careers, including those of Jack Morris and Rick Reuschel.

“To me, he’s the Johnny Sain of his era.” — Jack Morris, former Blue Jay.

Vida Blue died on May 6 in Tracy, CA. He was 73. The left-hander splashed into the AL like few others. He pitched a no-hitter near the end of the 1970 season and then went 24-8 in 1971 to win the Cy Young and the MVP awards for Oakland. He would win 20 games in two more seasons and finished in the top ten in Cy Young voting four other times. Blue served jail time for cocaine possession and was suspended for an entire season but still won 209 games with 37 shutouts.

“He’s got great people skills and I think that’s been a downfall. People have allowed him to get away with more.” – Derrick Blue, Vida’s son.

Tim McCarver died on Feb. 16 in Memphis. He was 81. He was the catcher on the Cardinals’ 1964 and 1967 world championship teams, then went to Philadelphia and helped rehabilitate Steve Carlton’s career. McCarver was a .271 hitter over 21 seasons. He’s better known as a groundbreaking and fearless TV analyst for the Phillies, Mets, Yankees and Giants and on national networks for 23 World Series and 20 All-Star Games. His insights into pitching and defensive strategy had not been heard on TV previously.

“If you’re going to talk about the best broadcaster in baseball history, Tim McCarver’s name has to be at the very top.” — Dick Enberg.

Guillermo Hernandez died on Nov. 20 in Sebring, Fla. He was a left-handed reliever who did not get a Cy Young Award or an MVP vote except in 1984, when he captured both awards for the World Series champion Tigers. He saved 32 consecutive games and 35 in 37 opportunities, and he led the AL with 80 appearances. Hernandez went two innings for 18 of those saves. He began building for his big year in 1983 with Philadelphia, when he began throwing his screwball more often, and then added a cut fastball during the championship year. He also was the first Puerto Rican to win a Cy Young Award.

“I’m here to make money and provide for my family. I came into the world poor and naked but I don’t want to die with no clothes on.” — Willie Hernandez.

Tim Wakefield died on Oct. 1 in Hingham, Mass. He was 57. Wakefield pitched until he was 44 and knuckleballed his way to 200 victories, 186 of them with the Red Sox. He was 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA in Boston’s ALCS loss to the Yankees in 2003, and was 2-0 for Pititsburgh with a 3.00 ERA in a 7-game NLCS loss to the Braves. He’s third in wins among all Red Sox pitchers behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens and is the all time leader in innings. He was signed as a first baseman until he discovered the knuckler. He was also unusually involved in charity work and was nominated eight times by Boston for the Roberto Clemente Award, which he won in 2010.

“I can’t describe what you mean to me and my family. I will never be able to replace a brother and a friend like you.” – David Ortiz.

Frank Howard died on Oct. 30 in Aldie, Va. He was 87. “Hondo” was a 6-foot-7 behemoth who hit 44 home runs in 1968, which was one of the most pitching-dominant seasons in history. That was eight more homers than anyone else. Howard grew up in the Dodgers’ organization but became the Washington Senators’ first real star, pounding home runs that rattled faraway seats in D.C. Stadium. He wound up with 382 home runs and had an outstanding OPS-plus of 142 for his career. Howard was also known for his gregarious nature and his epicurean appetites.

“I think without question he is the biggest, strongest guy who ever played the game.” – Ted Wiilliams.

Dick Groat died on April 27 in Pittsburgh. He was 92. Most people associate the champion 1960 Pirates with Bill Mazeroski, but Maz’s double play partner was actually the NL MVP that year. Groat was the batting champion with a .325 average and hit .286 or his career with 2,138 hits and only 38 home runs. He also helped the Cardinals to the 1964 championship. But at Duke he was better known as an All-American basketball player and is still the only player to lead the nation in scoring and assists. Groat was the first Blue Devil player to have his jersey retired. He also did not play an inning of minor league ball.

“He makes a great play and makes it look easy. Then he comes back and plops in the dugout as if nothing has happened.” – Danny Murtaugh, Pirates’ manager.

Sal Bando died on Feb. 13 in Cleveland. He was 78. He was the tough, reliable third baseman on Oakland’s three consecutive championship teams in the 70s, the captain of an often-fractious team who hit 242 home runs and played 16 years. Bando missed only 49 games in 10 years, beginning in 1968, and played 162 games three times. He was the unifier in the clubhouse and wasn’t afraid to voice his teammates’ resentments of owner Charlie Finley. Then Bando, who ended his career in Milwaukee, became the Brewers’ general manager for seven years.

“There are only three things in life that we are totally in charge of. That’s our effort, our attitude and our credibility. Sal Bando stood in front of the line with all of those.” — Rick Monday, former Arizona State teammate.